[@shylarah]

Autism party. Then I would suggest those things need to be better addressed because I did not get those from both characters introduction. To me to make the story work then, one of them had to give up emotional vulnerability. Either Edric of Leia. Because readers cannot read between those established lines, one of those character should have given into the emotional window. It is not a bad piece. I just don't think it really is what this contest is about because you have too emotionally reserved characters in the first scene and that makes it harder for the readers to connect.

I feel like the relationship should have established, maybe not of unease. Maybe Edric is mocking her inside. Etc. You have a nice piece, but forgot the human element and to get deep down into the emotional levels of the relationship.